State health officials were in Bridgeport Thursday to collect water samples from the school where a principal worked before contracting and dying of Legionnares? disease.

Howard Reed, 55, worked at Garfield Elementary School during the period of time he is suspected to have contracted the rare and fatal disease. Health officials don?t believe Reed contracted the disease from the school, but they took samples from the air conditioning system closest to Reed?s office as a precaution. Parents say they are relieved the health department is testing the school.Legionnaires? disease is a form of pneumonia and is contracted through bacteria. It claimed Reed?s life within a week of his diagnosis.

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